Murals as Part of Something Larger
One of the reasons I love murals is because they exist within communities, instead of inside galleries. But while public art is an important ingredient in community enrichment and place-making, it cannot make a successful community space just standing on its own two legs… or, err, its own wall. Creating good community spaces – like parks, playgrounds, centers, markets, and meeting places – must include many different levels of both functionality and aesthetics. For example, you wouldn’t stick a piece of public art out in a field in the middle of nowhere, untouchable and hard to get to. It should be part of a larger community space where people can gather: near public transportation, and community destinations like restaurants and shops. It should have comfy places to sit down and enjoy the scenery or read a book. There should be interesting things to look at (here’s where public art comes in!). The public art can even provide an interactive experience… Remember DC’s Awakening sculpture that used to grace Haine’s Point? That was an awesome interactive public art piece. Kids and adults alike could climb and touch the art, and sit in a giant hand. It was a completely unique experience! Furthermore, the art was situated in a public park, with golf and bicycling and scenery to accompany it.
Communities should have these kinds of comfortable and interesting places. Murals and other public art can provide one component of a community space, offering beauty, conversational stimulation, and thought provoking images. Wherever murals exist, they should be a part of something larger, and allow the community’s residents to gain full benefit from the art.
